Claims for Patent: 8,731,963

Summary for Patent: 8,731,963

Title:

Sensitive drug distribution system and method

Abstract:

A drug distribution system and method utilizes a central pharmacy and database to track all prescriptions for a sensitive drug. Information is kept in the database regarding all physicians allowed to prescribe the sensitive drug, and all patients receiving the drug. Abuses are identified by monitoring data in the database for prescription patterns by physicians and prescriptions obtained by patients. Further verification is made that the physician is eligible to prescribe the drug by consulting a separate database, and optionally whether any actions are taken against the physician. Multiple controls beyond those for normal drugs are imposed on the distribution depending on the sensitivity of the drug.

1. A computer-implemented system for treatment of a narcoleptic patient with a prescription drug that has a potential for misuse, abuse or diversion, comprising: one
or more computer memories for storing a single computer database having a database schema that contains and interrelates prescription fields, patient fields, and prescriber fields; said prescription fields, contained within the database schema, storing
prescriptions for the prescription drug with the potential for abuse, misuse or diversion, wherein the prescription drug is sold or distributed by a company that obtained approval for distribution of the prescription drug; said patient fields, contained
within the database schema, storing information sufficient to identify the narcoleptic patient for whom the company's prescription drug is prescribed; said prescriber fields, contained within the database schema, storing information sufficient to
identify a physician or other prescriber of the company's prescription drug and information to show that the physician or other prescriber is authorized to prescribe the company's prescription drug; a data processor configured to: process a database
query that operates over all data related to the prescription fields, prescriber fields, and patient fields for the prescription drug; and reconcile inventory of the prescription drug before the shipments for a day or other time period are sent by using
said database query to identify information in the prescription fields and patient fields; wherein the data processor is configured to process a second database query that identifies that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer and a physician that is
interrelated with the narcoleptic patient through the schema of the single computer database; said identifying that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer by said second database query being an indicator of a potential misuse, abuse or diversion by the
narcoleptic patient and being used to notify the physician that is interrelated with the narcoleptic patient through the schema of the single computer database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor selectively blocks shipment of the prescription drug to the patient based upon said identifying by the database query.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the prescription drug is shipped to the narcoleptic patient if no potential misuse, abuse or diversion is found for the narcoleptic patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database is an exclusive database that receives data associated with all patients being prescribed the prescription drug that is associated with the company.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an exclusive central pharmacy controls the single computer database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database comprises a relational database.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database is distributed among multiple computers and the database query operates over all data relating to said prescription fields, prescriber fields, and patient fields for the
prescription drug.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor is configured to initiate an inquiry to a prescriber when one or more prescription fields, patient fields, or prescriber fields are incomplete in the computer database.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor is configured to process a third database query that identifies an expected date for a refill of the prescription drug.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the expected date is based on a prescription for the prescription drug and a date of a previous filling of the prescription.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the prescription identifies an amount of the prescription drug to be provided and a schedule for consumption of the prescription drug.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the database schema further contains and interrelates insurance fields, wherein the insurance fields, contained within the database schema, store information sufficient to identify an insurer to be contacted
for payment for prescription drugs of an associated patient.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database is used to identify a current pattern or an anticipated pattern of abuse of the prescription drug; wherein the current pattern or the anticipated pattern are identified using
periodic reports generated from the single computer database.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one or more controls for distribution of the prescription drug are selected based on the identified pattern.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more controls are submitted to an approval body for approval of distribution of the prescription drug.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein additional controls for distribution are selected in a negotiation with an approval body to garner the approval of distribution.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data processor is used to add further controls until approval is obtained.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the approval body is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

20. The system of claim 1, wherein current inventory is cycle counted and reconciled with database quantities before shipments for a day or other time period are sent.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database comprises an exclusive computer database of the company that obtained approval for distribution of the prescription drug, wherein all prescriptions for the company's prescription
drug are stored only in the exclusive computer database of the company, and wherein the company's prescription drug is sold or distributed by the company using only the exclusive computer database of the company.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the single computer database comprises a single computer database of the company that obtained approval for distribution of the prescription drug, wherein the prescription fields store all prescription
requests, for all patients being prescribed the company's prescription drug, only in the single computer database of the company, from all physicians or other prescribers allowed to prescribe the company's prescription drug, such that all prescriptions
for the company's prescription drug are processed using only the single computer database of the company.

23. A computer-implemented system for treatment of a narcoleptic patient with a prescription drug that has a potential for misuse, abuse or diversion, comprising: one or more computer memories for storing a single computer database having a
database schema that contains and interrelates prescription fields, patient fields, and prescriber fields; said prescription fields, contained within the database schema, storing prescriptions for the prescription drug with the potential for abuse,
misuse or diversion, wherein the prescription drug is sold or distributed by a company that obtained approval for distribution of the prescription drug; said patient fields, contained within the database schema, storing information sufficient to
identify the narcoleptic patient for whom the company's prescription drug is prescribed; said prescriber fields, contained within the database schema, storing information sufficient to identify a physician or other prescriber of the company's
prescription drug and information to show that the physician or other prescriber is authorized to prescribe the company's prescription drug; a data processor for processing a database query that operates over all data related to the prescription fields,
prescriber fields, and patient fields for the prescription drug; said database query identifying information in the prescription fields and patient fields for reconciling inventory of the prescription drug before the shipments for a day or other time
period are sent, wherein an inventory reconciliation is performed where current inventory is counted and reconciled with database quantities before shipments for a day or other time period are sent, and wherein the data processor is configured to
selectively block shipment of the prescription drug based on the inventory reconciliation; wherein the data processor is configured to process a second database query that identifies that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer and a physician that is
interrelated with the narcoleptic patient through the schema of the single computer database; said identifying that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer by said second database query being an indicator of a potential misuse, abuse or diversion by the
narcoleptic patient and being used to notify the physician that is interrelated with the narcoleptic patient through the schema of the single computer database.

24. A computer-implemented system for treatment of a narcoleptic patient with a prescription drug that has a potential for misuse, abuse or diversion, wherein the prescription drug is sold or distributed by a company that obtained approval for
distribution of the prescription drug, comprising: one or more computer memories for storing a central computer database of the company that obtained approval for distribution of the prescription drug, for receiving prescriptions from any and all
patients being prescribed the company's prescription drug, said central computer database having a database schema that contains and interrelates prescription fields, patient fields, and prescriber fields; said central computer database being
distributed over multiple computers; said prescription fields, contained within the database schema, storing prescriptions for the prescription drug with the potential for abuse, misuse or diversion; said patient fields, contained within the database
schema, storing information sufficient to identify the narcoleptic patient for whom the company's prescription drug is prescribed; said prescriber fields, contained within the database schema, storing information sufficient to identify any and all
physicians or other prescribers of the company's prescription drug and information to show that the physicians or other prescribers are authorized to prescribe the company's prescription drug; one or more data processors for processing one or more
database queries that operate over data related to the prescription fields, prescriber fields, and patient fields for the prescription drug; said one or more database queries checking for abuse within the central computer database, wherein the filling
of the prescriptions is authorized for the company's prescription drug only if there is no record of incidents that indicate abuse, misuse, or diversion by the narcoleptic patient and prescriber and if there is a record of such incidents, the central
computer database indicates that such incidents have been investigated, and the central computer database indicates that such incidents do not involve abuse, misuse or diversion.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more database queries are processed by the one or more data processors for identifying: that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer and a physician that is interrelated with the narcoleptic
patient through the schema of the single computer database; said identifying that the narcoleptic patient is a cash payer by said second database query being an indicator of a potential misuse, abuse or diversion by the narcoleptic patient and being
used to notify the physician that is interrelated with the narcoleptic patient through the schema of the single computer database.

26. The system of claim 24, where the central computer database is distributed among multiple computers, and where the one or more database queries operate over all data relating to said prescription fields, prescriber fields, and patient
fields for the prescription drug.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the central computer database is used to identify a current pattern or an anticipated pattern of abuse of the prescription drug; wherein the current pattern or the anticipated pattern are identified using
periodic reports generated from the single computer database.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein current inventory is cycle counted and reconciled with database quantities before shipments for a day or other time period are sent.

Drugs may be covered by multiple patents or regulatory protections. All trademarks and applicant names are the property of their respective owners or licensors.
Although great care is taken in the proper and correct provision of this service, thinkBiotech LLC does not accept any responsibility for possible consequences of errors or omissions in the provided data.
The data presented herein is for information purposes only. There is no warranty that the data contained herein is error free.
thinkBiotech performs no independent verifification of facts as provided by public sources nor are attempts made to provide legal or investing advice. Any reliance on data provided herein is done solely at the discretion of the user.
Users of this service are advised to seek professional advice and independent confirmation before considering acting on any of the provided information. thinkBiotech LLC reserves the right to amend, extend or withdraw any part or all of the offered service without notice.